Washington (CNN) - The national battle over guns is headed to the states in a major way.

Already groups supporting more gun restrictions have been active on the local level. And now for the first time in almost two decades, the National Rifle Association is attempting to coordinate the recall of a top state legislator for having successfully passed further gun restrictions in his state, CNN has learned.

(CNN) – The two leaders of the Republican Governors Association called for the appointment of a special prosecutor Tuesday to investigate any legal wrongdoing within the Internal Revenue Service.

Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin - who both are considered potential candidates for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination - wrote in a letter to President Barack Obama the recent revelation the IRS was applying extra scrutiny to conservative groups applying for tax exempt status amounted to a "witch hunt to prevent Americans from exercising their First Amendment rights."FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - The calendar reads May 2013, but in some ways it sure feels a lot closer to 2016.

Friday night Vice President Joe Biden keynotes a Democratic Party dinner in Columbia, South Carolina. Less than two miles away, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas headlines a Palmetto State Republican Party dinner.FULL POST

The tea party favorite, who survived a recall election in 2012 after curbing collective bargaining rights for public employees, said the GOP's focus on fiscal issues like the federal debt and spending cuts ignore policies that have a real effect on Americans' lives. Instead, he argued Republicans should look beyond Washington to find a new direction for the party.FULL POST

Washington (CNN) - Add another name to the list of possible 2016 GOP White House hopefuls who will speak at this year's Conservative Political Action Conference, a popular cattle call for Republicans considering bids for the White House.

The American Conservative Union, which runs the annual gathering, said Tuesday that Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, will address the conference, which this year will be held March 14-16.FULL POST

Milwaukee, Wisconsin (CNN) - His campaign thought Wisconsin's 10 electoral votes were in the bag long ago, but President Barack Obama's trip here Saturday is the latest indicator that both sides believe the Badger State has become a toss-up.

The president touches down in the state Saturday for the first time in more than 200 days, set to attend two fund-raisers that will net his campaign more than $600,000 as well as an evening rally at a large amphitheater on the banks of Lake Michigan.FULL POST

Lakeland, Florida (CNN) - Rep. Paul Ryan told reporters Friday that he is "comfortable" with how Romney's campaign is managing his role as the vice presidential nominee, after Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker questioned in a radio interview whether the campaign was effectively using the relative newcomer .

Walker, who recently survived a recall election in Wisconsin, praised Mitt Romney for making a "bold" choice in selecting his friend and seven-term congressman from his home state.FULL POST

OAK CREEK, Wisconsin (CNN) - The Sikh community lived the words of slain civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. this week by responding with love to an attack that killed six Sikhs, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker told a memorial service Friday.

Wearing an orange head covering in keeping with Sikh tradition, Walker quoted King's assertion that only love can overcome hate, and said he witnessed that truth in the aftermath of Sunday's attack at a Sikh temple in a Milwaukee suburb.